What's cookin' ?

[RandBlade]

That's mistaking correlation for causality. Again, it's a phase. It will pass.

It won't pass if you give in every time. I know you'll say correlation again but I know plenty of people whose parents give in every time who then grow up to be the fussiest of eaters.

[Khendraja'aro]

It won't pass if you give in every time. I know you'll say correlation again but I know plenty of people whose parents give in every time who then grow up to be the fussiest of eaters.

I don't buy that. Again, it's a biological phase like puberty. A baby will eat nearly anthying their parents give them. Upon reaching a certain age, they'll begin to reject some foods. That has several different possible reasons.
For instance, your example of having to "stay strong in the face of adversity" may cause the exact opposite of what you want.

Ever watched a small child fall down and, say, bump its knees? Sometimes it will look around and see if anyone noticed. If the mother watched, then it will begin to cry, the mother will make a fuss over it and so on. Happens because the kid knows that if it cries, it will get attention.
Same thing with food. Sometimes it's not so much about the food itself, it's about the attention. Any kind of attention. And if they get that attention, it will reinforce that particular behaviour.
Sometimes it's best to simply ignore it.

[RandBlade]

I don't buy that. Again, it's a biological phase like puberty. A baby will eat nearly anthying their parents give them. Upon reaching a certain age, they'll begin to reject some foods. That has several different possible reasons.
For instance, your example of having to "stay strong in the face of adversity" may cause the exact opposite of what you want.

Ever watched a small child fall down and, say, bump its knees? Sometimes it will look around and see if anyone noticed. If the mother watched, then it will begin to cry, the mother will make a fuss over it and so on. Happens because the kid knows that if it cries, it will get attention.
Same thing with food. Sometimes it's not so much about the food itself, it's about the attention. Any kind of attention. And if they get that attention, it will reinforce that particular behaviour.
Sometimes it's best to simply ignore it.

Again it depends what type of child you're talking about. I've already said I'm not referring to babies. For children say 6-12 (ish) though it becomes different.

[Khendraja'aro]

Again it depends what type of child you're talking about. I've already said I'm not referring to babies. For children say 6-12 (ish) though it becomes different.

The proccess of "wanting attention" is not limited to babies. It also works for toddlers, schoolchildren, teenagers and adults. It's basic psychology - and it does not simply disappear with age. If anything, it becomes more sophisticated.

I myself can remember at least two occasions in my adult life where I did something pretty daft to get attention from someone who I thought was neglecting me.

Or did you never hear of the tactic: "I want his/her attention, so I'll flirt with someone else and make him/her jealous"? Same thing, really.